We take matters of personal injury very seriously
How Seriously?
We collect no fees from our clients unless we win.
HOW MUCH MONEY CAN I GET FOR MY CAR ACCIDENT CLAIM?/
This is one of the questions we get most often. People want to know up front how much they might be eligible to receive if we win their case. The answer is: it depends./
Financial compensation in a car accident case is determined by numerous factors. Included in what you might collect are costs such as medical bills, lost time/wages from work, worker’s compensation claims, vehicle repairs, property loss (items in the car that were damaged), and pain and suffering/emotional distress damages. While some costs are clear cut, like the cost of a car repair, others depend on your earnings, how heavily you were impacted by the crash mentally and physically, and what long-term consequences you may suffer, if any. While the case is in process, you may be required to pay for some expenses up front, and then, in the lawsuit, we’ll ask for reimbursement of those expenses to be added to the total dollar amount we seek to obtain on your behalf.
Our offices are experienced in handling all the facets of compensation in a car accident case, and we work to ensure that your costs are covered and that you are justly compensated for the wrong that has been done to you. When you meet with our car accident lawyer in Peoria and our team, we’ll go over the facts and figures in your case in our free consultation appointment. In our efforts, we’ll gather information related to all expenses, costs, and damages. It is unlikely we can calculate the potential compensation amount you could receive when we only first begin to work on your case.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT CASE?/
The circumstances of each auto accident are different, as are the histories of the parties involved. It’s important to keep in mind that insurance companies are looking out for their own company’s best interest. To avoid paying your claim, they may try to say you were at fault when you were not. They might agree to reimburse the bare bones of your costs; but if you want to seek compensation for the totality of the hurt you have experienced as the result of a car accident, encompassing all of your expenses, including pain and suffering and emotional distress, you will need to hire an experienced Peoria car accident attorney so that you can file a lawsuit.
An experienced attorney acts as your trusted advisor, evaluating your case and representing your interests. They assist you with recouping all of the expenses and damages incurred as a result of the crash. If you are made to feel unsure who was at fault, or there are extenuating circumstances that complicate the car accident, our experienced team can evaluate the case during our free initial consultation and give you a better understanding of your chances with a lawsuit. At Jeff Green Law, we put our resources to work for you in arriving at a full and fair settlement; and if the insurance company does not settle, our car accident lawyer is ready to go to trial and represent you in your litigation efforts.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?/
If you are able to do so safely, collecting information at the scene of the accident is a very important part of your case and can provide crucial evidence in a lawsuit./
Information to gather, and what to do at the scene of a car accident:
- Obtain the name and license plate number of all drivers.
- Obtain the insurance information for all drivers: company name, agent name (if they have one or know it), policy number and phone number.
- Document the make, model and year of vehicles involved.
- If possible, obtain the name and phone number of any witnesses. If they cannot stay for the police, try to get them to agree to make a statement about what they saw while you make a video with your phone.
- Take note of the day, time and location of the accident.
- Take photographs of all cars involved, from several different angles, including the license plates.
- Note the weather conditions and condition of the road.
- Photograph any skid marks that occurred as a result of the accident.
- Photograph anything that could be a contributing factor to an accident, such as an object in the road, a tree or bush that obscures vision, etc.
- Obtain the name and badge numbers of any police offers who respond, and make a note of the incident or report number.
It is important not to say anything to other parties on the scene that could be construed as an admission of fault. So, keep quiet, and do your documentation while you wait for the authorities and/or EMS. Information you can give out:
The year, make, and model of your vehicle, and your VIN.
Your name.
The name of your insurance company, agent, and policy number.
At your earliest convenience, contact your car accident lawyer so that they can step in immediately and assist you with gathering information for your case.
FINANCIAL COMPENSATION AVAILABLE TO YOU/
Through our research, we will determine the financial impact of the injury on you and your family. This includes the complete costs of any expenses incurred as a result of a car accident.
- Car repair bills,
- Medical expenses,
- Lost wages from missed time at work, and
- Compensation for the emotional distress that can haunt accident victims.
We will also help you obtain benefit coverage, such as medical insurance payments or worker’s compensation payments to which you may be entitled. We’ll assist with handling any auto insurance costs, which can include supplemental medical payments or “med pay” coverage, to assist in paying your bills.
We are experienced in negotiating any and all reimbursement obligations once compensation has been recovered from negligent parties. Our Peoria-based team at the Law Office of Jeff Green will ensure we get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Get help from an experienced car accident lawyer./
Our Consultations Are Free/
Jeff Green is an aggressive litigator who will fight for your rights to get you the compensation you deserve.
OUR PEORIA CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS SEEK JUSTICE FOR YOU/
It is our position that insurance companies must take responsibility for the actions of their negligent drivers, and we will tirelessly seek justice for you in your automobile accident case. Accidents are not just unfortunate incidents — they can have devastating financial and personal consequences, and we work hard to get the compensation you deserve when you are the victim of an auto accident.
We have an impressive record of winning cases across central Illinois and protecting the rights of our clients. Find out why so many others who have been injured in car wrecks come to the Peoria car accident lawyer at the Law Office of Jeff Green for help.
CAR ACCIDENT CASES WE HANDLE/
Car wrecks
Bus accidents
Rear-end collisions
SUV rollovers
Failure to stop and yield
Intersection accidents
CAUSES OF CAR ACCIDENTS/
Here are some of the most common reasons for car crashes today, along with tips for things you can do to reduce your risk of causing an accident:
Distracted Driving
This includes use of a phone (texting, calling, social media, etc.), a GPS unit, or the car radio, but distraction isn’t caused only by devices. Eating and drinking while driving can be extremely dangerous; and conversations and engaging with children in the back seat can distract a driver.
Fatigue
Drowsy driving is a huge contributor to accidents. If you are very tired, you should not operate a piece of machinery that weighs thousands of pounds, cruising down the road at highway speeds. Even pulling over for a short nap break during long drives can help refresh you enough to drive more safely.
Drugs/Alcohol
Driving after using drugs and/or alcohol is 100% unsafe and should be avoided every single time.
Weather
While we cannot control the weather, your driving habits should adjust accordingly when you are in bad weather. Whether you are driving in rain, snow, sleet, hail, or some combination of those conditions, SLOW DOWN and proceed with increased caution when driving in challenging weather conditions.
Speeding
Posted speed limits reflect the maximum safe speed of travel on that road, taking into consideration the road’s design and other factors. Drivers who exceed the posted limit put themselves and others at risk.
Reckless Driving
When a driver disregards the safety of other people or property, their recklessness may result in a crash. Such behavior includes making quick lane changes, tailgating/following too closely, illegal passing, and drag racing. Younger drivers are particularly prone to reckless driving.
Red Light Accidents
Many accidents are caused by a distracted or reckless driver who runs through a red light. When you’re approaching an intersection, do not quickly accelerate to try to get through a yellow light before it turns red; and if your light has gone from red to green, realize that other vehicles may still be in the intersection after attempting to beat their light.
ILLINOIS AUTO COLLISION STATISTICS/
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there are almost 325,000 crashes involving motor vehicles annually, leaving over 66,000 people injured and killing 1,000. That’s approximately 890 car accidents in Illinois per day. Other facts and statistics about car crashes in Illinois:
- On average, three people per day die in car accidents, and more than 10 are injured per hour.
- 13% of car rashes result in severe injuries.
- Speed is a factor in more than 30% of all types of crashes. It is a factor in more than 33% of fatal crashes.
- Nearly 84% of fatal crashes were on dry roads, and just about half were during daytime hours.
- Friday is the day with the highest number of car crashes, with more than 45,700 in urban locations and over 8,100 in rural locations.
- The most frequent time for accidents is between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., followed closely by the 12 p.m. to4 p.m. window. Exercise additional care on those afternoon and evening commutes!
- Fatal crashes are most frequent on Saturdays in both urban and rural areas. Sundays are a close second.
- Accidents involving pedestrians lead to tragedy. Only collisions with fixed objects (such as a wall) are more likely to involve a fatality.
- Rear-end collisions are the most common type crashes, numbering over 96,500 per year.
- Crashes that happen while turning are the second-most frequent type of crash, with over 50,800 in a one-year period, resulting in 110 fatalities.
- Work zone and construction zone crashes numbered over 6,700 annually. It is usually the vehicle occupants who are injured or killed in these crashes, but nine workers died in these work-zone crashes in a one-year period.
- Large trucks such as semi tractor-trailers were involved in 821 crashes in work zones inside a one-year period.
- Nearly 15,000 car crashes were the result of hitting a deer, including 5 fatalities.
- Almost 5,000 pedestrians are hit by cars annually.
- More than 3,300 cyclists are hit by cars each year.
- Car accidents involving trains numbered 76 in a one-year period, with nine fatalities.
- Unsurprisingly, Cook County, home to the most people in Illinois, has the highest number of car accidents per year (164,717), followed by DuPage, Kane and Will counties. Hardin county had the lowest number of crashes—72.
- Almost 2,700 motorcyclists were injured in crashes, and 154 were killed.
- More than 30% of fatal car accidents (1,000) involved alcohol.
- More than 40% of pedestrians killed in car accidents had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit of 0.01.
- Of all the major holiday periods on the road, Labor Day weekend has the highest number of fatal crashes, and the highest percentage of alcohol-related crashes — higher than New Year’s Eve/Day!
- There were over 1,600 crashes involving school buses.
GETTING MEDICAL TREATMENT AFTER A CAR CRASH/
After a car accident, getting prompt medical treatment is extremely important. If you delay seeking treatment, it may later prove difficult to tie your injuries and illnesses to the car crash.
For obvious, simple, and minor injuries, like a broken arm, the treatment is fairly straightforward. But problems like concussions, whiplash, disc problems in the back, and mental and emotional trauma resulting from the accident can be difficult to detect immediately after an accident. These disorders and challenges can have major, lingering, negative effects on your health that might not appear until later on.
Always follow the directions of a physician until the treatment reaches its conclusion. Keep all of your discharge papers from any and all physicians and specialists you see while seeking treatment after an accident. Keep receipts for medications and co-pays, and keep copies of any correspondence between you and your medical professionals.
If you are involved in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, and monitor your health and state of mind carefully in the days and weeks after an accident for any additional negative effects from the crash. Pay attention to signs of trauma such as pain, dizziness, nausea, and other bodily discomfort that can appear in a delayed fashion.
SINGLE-CAR CRASH/
Crashes which involve only one vehicle account for a large portion of accidents, and cause 8,000 deaths annually. The highest percentage of these, 70%, are ROR (“run-off-road”) crashes, when the vehicle leaves the roadway and overturns or collides with something like a tree, building, pole, or other artificial or natural object. Why are ROR crashes so prevalent, and so dangerous?
Factors, as identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
Driver Behavior
Speed, alcohol and drug use, drowsiness and distracted driving are all a factor in these types of crashes
Curvy Roadways
Curvy and winding roads are inherently dangerous, made more so when drivers exceed the posted speed limit.
Weather
It’s no surprise that bad weather is a contributing factor to ROR accidents. But it isn’t just rain, wind or snow at play. Dirt or dust blowing up, smoke, fog, and sand are all contributors to ROR accidents. In adverse weather conditions, 75% of crashes are ROR crashes.
Age
Younger, less experienced drivers are more likely to be involved in these crashes, due to poor judgment and distracted or drunk driving. Elderly drivers may run off the road because they overcorrect or cannotstop safely, or because of vision impairment or sudden health crises.
Rural Roads
In crashes on rural roadways, 80% are ROR as compared to 56% in urban areas, because of speeding, animals in the road, and poor lighting.
Time of Day
ROR accidents occur more often at night, due to lack of lighting or vision impairment.
Combination of factors
Combining any of these factors multiplies the risk for a single-car accident.
Type of vehicle
Passenger cars are the most likely to be involved in ROR crashes, over all other types of passenger vehicles (pickup trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles).
If you are involved in any type of a single-car accident, the law firm of Jeff Green will represent your best interests by determining causes of the crash that may not have been your fault, such as objects in the road and other unavoidable factors. Consulting with our car accident attorney as soon as possible after a crash is important, so that important evidence does not disappear.
TYPES OF INJURIES IN CAR ACCIDENTS/
When you are injured in a car accident, injuries can run the gamut from minor to serious—even life-threatening or fatal. Of course, the degree and type depend on the circumstances of each particular accident, but some are more common than others./
Seeking prompt medical attention after a collision is extremely important. The adrenaline released as a result of the crash can mask injuries, and though you “feel fine,” you could have a serious underlying problem. Injuries can manifest in the days, weeks, and even months after the accident, but it is important that you seek prompt medical attention immediately after the accident so that you can prove your injuries are a result of the accident.
Listed below are some of the most common types of injuries in car crashes:
Scrapes, Cuts, and Bruises
Scrapes, bruising, and minor abrasions are common in car accidents. Some of these can be minor, but deep bruising can be very painful and take a long time to go away. You can be injured by the seat belt restraining you during collision, by items that moved about within the car during the accident, or even by things like broken windshield glass or the car’s airbag, if it deployed during impact.
Injuries to the Chest and Torso
The impact of an accident can be incredibly strong, causing blunt force trauma injuries to the chest and torso. Even a bruise from the seat belt can be extremely painful and last for weeks. If you are not wearing a seat belt, the damage can be even greater when your body impacts the dashboard or door. Car accidents can bruise or break your ribs, bruise or break your pelvis, and result in severe damage to your internal organs. Accidents can even trigger heart attacks.
Back Injuries
Back injuries as a result of a car accident can be very, very serious, and are extremely common as the body is flung around or against the seat during impact. Middle back and lower back sprains and strains are common. You can also break vertebral bones in the back of your neck and along the back, causing months if not years of pain and rehabilitation. Herniated discs can occur in the vertebral column, which can create years of back and leg pain. Damage to the spinal cord can also occur, resulting in temporary or long-term nerve damage, or temporary or permanent paralysis.
Head and Neck Injuries
The force and sudden stoppage during an accident can cause the head to snap back and forth, often in an unnatural manner, causing ligament damage (“whiplash”). You can also hit your head on the steering wheel, windshield, or other windows. In some cases, the damage is not visible but there is bleeding or swelling inside the brain. Even minor concussions can have serious side effects.
Injuries to the Limbs
Your hands, arms, legs and knees can all be injured in a car accident. Everything from minor bruises to broken kneecaps and fractured arms can occur, depending on the force of the impact.
LAWS RELATED TO CAR ACCIDENTS/
Understanding your rights and the law when you have been involved in a car accident in Illinois can sometimes be the last thing on your mind at the scene of the accident. You may be concerned about your injuries, or injuries to another party, damage to your car, locating and documenting insurance information for everyone involved, and so forth. Filing a lawsuit may be the last thing on your mind. But Illinois law allows for anyone to sue who believes another party was negligent and caused the accident. You must prove negligence by the other party, as well as document any damages or loss that occurs as the result of an accident.
When the police are called to the scene of an accident, they document what happened for their police report and often determine fault or negligence based on the circumstances at hand. Obtaining trusted legal counsel promptly is very important, so that your interests are represented and your rights are protected. The law office of Jeff Green has a deep bench of experience representing people involved in Illinois car accidents, including single-car crashes, and is well-versed in the laws of the state of Illinois that apply to car accidents. We have experience going after those who are negligent, as well as representing the interests of those who appear to be at fault, protecting their rights and interests.
There are laws that apply to anyone involved in a car accident in Illinois. Understanding these laws is an important first step:
- If someone is injured, you are required to try to help them by administering some kind of aid. No one expects you to respond like a trained EMT, but ignoring someone who is injured or in danger goes against the requirement to provide basic necessary services to another human being as required by law.
- You must provide information to the other driver and/or the police, such as your name, insurance information, and the name of the owner of the vehicle, if it is not you.
- You are not allowed to leave the scene unless you are dismissed by the police. Even if no other car is involved, if there is property damage as the result of a car accident, leaving the scene is a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois. Leaving the scene of a more serious accident can be a felony.
- Even minor fender benders can result in pain and injury, and it is best to have every accident documented by the police in case of problems later on. It is required to call the police if damage from the accident exceeds a certain dollar figure ($1,500), and unless you are an expert in evaluating vehicle damage, medical bills, insurance and other associated costs, you may underestimate costs of the accident. It’s always a good idea to contact the police, even if the accident seems to be minor.
- If you damage property and no other parties are involved, you have to make a good faith effort to contact the owner of that property to arrange restitution. For example, if you hit a parked car, you should try to locate the owner or leave your information on the vehicle.
It should be noted that Illinois is an “at fault” state, which means drivers who are involved in car accidents who then seek compensation after the accident must prove the other party was at fault. If both parties are at fault, it has to be proven that the other party is more at fault than the person filing suit.
Further, there is a statute of limitations in Illinois. Personal injury lawsuits can be filed up to two years after an accident has occurred, and property damage lawsuits can be filed up to five years later. This time clock does not stop when a suit is filed, so it is important to act quickly as it can take a long time to proceed through a car accident case.
Contact us for a free consultation
You Don’t Pay Unless We Win
At the law office of Jeff Green, our car accident lawyer in Peoria will evaluate your case for free and tell you what you can expect if you decide to go forward with a lawsuit.
